Atlantic Council blogs

Italy breaks ranks over NATO’s Libya mission

By Ella Ide, AFP

From Ella Ide, AFP:  Italy called for a suspension of hostilities in Libya on Wednesday in the latest sign of dissent within NATO as the civilian death toll mounts and Moamer Kadhafi shows no signs of quitting power.

Head of British Army questions deadline for Afghan troop withdrawal

By James Kirkup, the Telegraph

From James Kirkup, the Telegraph:  Just 24 hours after the Prime Minister rebuked military chiefs for publicly criticising the Government, General Sir Peter Wall, the Chief of the General Staff, suggests in a television programme that Mr Cameron’s 2015 “deadline” to end combat operations could slip.

Budget cuts reducing NATO’s planned UAV purchase

By Bradley Peniston, Defense News

From Bradley Peniston, Defense News:  NATO is continuing to negotiate with Northrop Grumman on an estimated 1 billion euro ($1.4 billion) contract to provide the Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) Core Capability, a small fleet of radar-equipped Global Hawk unmanned aircraft.

Update: NATO activities in Libya on June 21

By NATO

Libya War-Funding Fight Escalates

By Siobhan Hughes, the Wall Street Journal

From Siobhan Hughes, the Wall Street Journal:  U.S. lawmakers staked out starkly different positions Tuesday on the legitimacy of the American intervention in Libya, suggesting more legislative challenges are ahead in a debate the White House had hoped to put to rest.

Steny Hoyer: Defunding Libya undermines NATO

By Seung Min Kim, POLITICO

From Seung Min Kim, POLITICO:  House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer said Tuesday he opposes the idea percolating in the House to defund U.S. involvement in Libya. “It certainly would undermine the confidence of NATO in the ability of the president of the United States to participate in support of an effort that NATO had agreed […]

Gates warns of lack of vision and walking away from US leadership in the world

By John Barry and Tara McKelvey, Newsweek

From John Barry and Tara McKelvey, Newsweek:  Aboard the Pentagon jet on his last foreign trip as secretary of defense, Robert Gates takes a moment to peer across the American horizon—and the view is dire: the U.S. is in danger of losing its supremacy on the global stage, he says.

Obama to announce Chicago to host NATO Summit in 2012

President Barack Obama will announce during tomorrow night’s speech on Afghanistan that Chicago will be the site of the NATO Summit in 2012.

Ukraine secretly ramps up ties with NATO: report

By AFP

From AFP:  Ukraine is ramping up cooperation with NATO, dealing a blow to Moscow’s hopes that its neighbour would align itself closer to Russia under President Viktor Yanukovych, a report said on Tuesday.

Video of crashed NATO helicopter drone in Libya

By Amy Butler, Aviation Week

From Amy Butler, Aviation Week:  A U.S. Navy MQ-8 Fire Scout unmanned rotorcraft was lost June 21 while conducting a mission over Libya, according to program sources.